When collaborating on a song or album, it's important to choose the right artist role for each contributor. The decision between Featured Artist and Additional Primary Artist affects how your release is displayed and credited across major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Primary Artist and Additional Primary Artist

Who: The main performer(s) responsible for the single or album.

When to use it:

• You are the main artist (you will automatically be credited as a main artist for your submissions - no need to add it manually).

• It's a collaboration where multiple artists share performance, called Dual Primary or Additional Primary Artists. For example, "BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman"

Dual Primary or Additional Primary Artists for UnitedMasters: Artists can add up to 2 additional primary artists to the track. SELECT and PARTNER artists can add it directly on the app on iOS on individual tracks and/or the overall release when creating a release submission. Other membership tiers can request additional primary artists to be added via the Support widget.

To request additional primary artists after a release approval is complete, you'll need to provide the following:

• The dual primary artist's Spotify and/or Apple Music artist profile links.

• Confirmation that current cover art does not indicate these artists as "featured".

  • If so, please submit a new cover art image to our teams that do not include this artist listed as "featured".

Submit your request to support with this information for review. Updates are typically processed within 3-5 days of submission.

APPLE MUSIC:

• The release will appear in the “Singles & EPs” section of each artist’s discography.

• The track will appear in the “Top Songs” for both artists (depending on streaming activity).

• You will be able to claim your artist profile on Apple Music for Artists and access detailed analytics such as plays, listeners, song purchases, and Shazam data. You can also manage your profile and view audience trends.

SPOTIFY

• Both artists' names will appear under the title.

• The release will appear in the “Discography” section of each artist

• The track will appear in each artist’s “Popular” tracks (depending on streaming activity).

• Listeners will count towards both artists’ monthly listeners

• You'll have full access to its analytics in your Spotify for Artists dashboard, including streams, saves, playlist additions, and listener demographics.

• Multi-track releases: If a primary artist is listed only in one of the tracks and not at the product (album) level, streams for that track alone will count toward this artist's Monthly Listeners. Keep in mind that streams from other tracks on the release will not.

IMPORTANT
Primary Artists appear directly on the main track and album credits across streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more.

Featured Artist

Who: An artist who makes a guest appearance on a track, but isn’t the main artist.

When to use it: Someone is performing a verse, chorus, or another noticeable part of the song.

APPLE

• The primary artist name will appear under the title, while the featured artist name will be automatically appended to the title

• The release will appear in the “Singles & EPs” section of the primary artist’s discography.

• The release will appear in the “Appears On” section of the featured artist’s discography.

• The track will appear in the “Top Songs” for both artists (depending on streaming activity).

• The featured artist won’t be able to claim an artist profile or access analytics for that track in Apple Music for Artists.

SPOTIFY

• The primary artist name will appear under the title in the banner, but both names will appear under the title in the list.

• The release will appear in the “Discography” section only for the primary.

• The release will appear in the "Appears on" for the featured artist(s)

• Listeners will count towards both artists’ monthly listeners.

• The featured artist won't have access to detailed analytics for that track in your Spotify for Artists dashboard.

IMPORTANT

• Featured Artists are shown in the song credits, but not always in the album credits, depending on the platform.

Producer and Writer

Who they are:

• Producers: The individuals who create the beat, instrumental, or production for a track.

• Writers: The individuals who compose the lyrics and/or music for a track.

When and how to use it:

• Producers and writers should be credited in the song's metadata ONLY by listing them as a Producer and/or Songwriter when you upload your release.

• Do not list the producer or writer as a Primary Artist unless they are also performing (singing, rapping, etc.).

• Do not add the producer or writer's name in the track title (e.g., formats like "Song Title (Prod. by Producer Name)").

Why it matters:

• Music services (like Apple Music) have strict guidelines about artist roles.

• Adding a producer or songwriter as a Primary Artist without a proper performance role can cause your release to be delayed, rejected, or removed from music services.

References: 
Spotify Metadata Style Guide - “Except for soundtracks and musicals, non-performing artists such as composers must not be listed as Main Artist or Featured Artist, unless they are also performers of the content.”​

Apple Music Specification 5.3.22 - "The primary role is reserved for the primary (lead) artists. Do not use (this field) for supporting artists or contributors."​

NOTE: Single release rules will not apply the same way to a multi-track release.